Switch-operating mechanism.



No. 807,896 I PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

v F. C. ANDERSON. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13.1905- Wtnesss: fw/oentow UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF EST VIRGINIA.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1905. Serial No. 255,273.

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch-operating mechanism for switch-stands.

The object of my invention is to provide means for taking up the wear and lost motion of the operating mechanism of a switch-stand.

My invention consists of a crank comprising a plurality of arms, each having means formed at a different distance from the center of the crank for connecting and operating the switchconnecting rod, whereby the wear and lost motion of the operating mechanism of a switch-stand may be taken up.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a switch-stand on the line as of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch-stand with the upper portions removed, showing the segmental gear and multiple-arm crank and part of the connecting-rod attached thereto in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the vertical shaft having segmental gear and the multiple-arm crank in position thereon. Fig. 4: is a plan view of a crank having three break able arms embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a crank having two arms. Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a segmental gear constructed according to'my invention.

I preferably construct the crank as follows: The hub l is formed with the lugs 2, adapted to clutch or engage corresponding lugs 3 on the segmental gear 4:. In the triple-arm crank shown in Fig. 4: the arms are attached at intervals of substantially ninety degrees, and in this construction it is necessary that at least one of the arms 5 should be formed in such a manner that it may be broken off, as at 6. This is done because in using the succeeding arm 7 the arm 6 would interfere with the connecting-rod 8 in the operation of the switch-stand. With the construction shown in Fig. 5, having two arms placed at substantially one hundred and eighty degrees apart,

the breakable construction is unnecessary, as the crank would simply be revolved one hundred and eighty degrees in changing to take up the wear.

On putting in a switch the connecting-rod 8 is secured to the shorter arm 5 by inserting a pin, as 9,th rough a connecting-rod and through the opening 10 in the arm, and after the switch-stand has been in use for some time and the various parts have become worn, so that the effective throw of the switch is less ened, the crank-arm may be revolved and the rod 8 secured to the succeeding longer arm 7 in the same manner. Obviously with the two-arm crank only one readjustment is possible, while with the three-arm crank used as I have described two readjustments can be made.

It will readily be perceived that my invention can be used with various other forms of switch-stand cranks, as one with the square hole being attached on shaft, as shown in Fig. 6, or where the crank and segmental gear are cast in one piece, as is shown in Fig. 7.

It is obvious that my invention is capable of considerable variation without departure from the scope and spirit thereof, and for that reason I do not limit myself to the precise constructions shown and described herein.

The advantage of this multiple-arm construction of crank for taking up wear is that it enables the change to be made with little or no inconvenience and at a comparatively slight expense, as the change can be made by merely shifting the crank through an angle, as has been described, instead of supplying a new crank each time a readjustment is made.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In switch-operating mechanism, a crank comprising a plurality of arms each having means formed at a different distance from the center of the crank for connecting the crank and the switch-connecting rod, and means for operating said crank.

FRANK C. ANDERSON.

WVitnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE L. PERDEW. 

